Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/259

227 may die of hunger and perish miserably, and none know of him.’

So the genie snatched him up and flew up with him betwixt heaven and earth, which when Marouf saw, he gave himself up for lost and wept and said, ‘O Aboussaadat, whither goest thou with me?’ ‘Dolt that thou art,’ replied the genie, ‘I go to cast thee down in the desert quarter of the world. Shall one have the like of this talisman and give it to the folk to look upon? Verily, thou deservest that which hath befallen thee; and but that I fear God, I would let thee fall from a height of a thousand fathoms, nor shouldst thou reach the earth, till the winds had torn thee in pieces.’ Marouf was silent and did not again bespeak him till he reached the desert quarter of the world and casting him down there, went away and left him in that horrible place.

Meanwhile, the vizier said to the king, ‘How deemest thou now? Did I not tell thee that this fellow was a liar and an impostor, but thou wouldst not credit me?’ ‘Thou wast in the right, O my vizier,’ replied the king. ‘God grant thee health! But give me the ring, that I may look upon it.’ The vizier looked at him angrily and spat in his face, saying, ‘O dullard, how shall I give it to thee and abide thy servant, after I am become thy master? But I will spare thee no more.’ Then he rubbed the ring and said to the genie, ‘Take up this churl and cast him down by his son-in-law the impostor.’ So the genie took him up and flew off with him, whereupon quoth the king to him, ‘O creature of my Lord, what is my crime?’ ‘I know not,’ answered Aboussaadat; ‘but my lord hath commanded me unto this and I cannot disobey him who possesseth the enchanted ring.’ Then he flew on with him, till he came to the desert quarter and casting him down whereas he had cast Marouf, returned and left him. The king, hearing Marouf weeping, went up to him and